The Wizard Of Oz are on the search for a community cast this Christmas!
BOA Group Productions are excited to bring The Wizard of Oz to The Old Rep Theatre in Birmingham from Tuesday 26th November until Tuesday 31st Decemberthis festive season,
and they want you to be a part of it! Auditions will take place on Thursday 3rd October at BOA Stage and Screen Production Academy (49 Stour Street, Birmingham, B18 7AJ) from 5.30pm onwards. You must be over 16 years old to audition and will be working alongside a professional theatre company and
creative team. To apply, please fill in the form here: https://forms.office.com/e/8tfYViFmmC
If you have any questions, please email ruth.morgan@boa-stageandscreen.co.uk. More information and key dates below, please read this before applying.
We hope to see you there and hope you can join us on a fantastic journey this Christmas!
Key Dates –
– Rehearsals
Rehearsals will take place from Monday 21st October and will include some
evenings and weekends.
o During the October Half Term week (W.c. 21/10) we will have 2 full days of
rehearsals – Wednesday 30th October and Thursday 31st October.
– Technical Rehearsals
o You will need to be available for all technical rehearsals from Wednesday 20th
November until Tuesday 26th November (Opening night) at The Old Rep
Theatre (Station Street, Birmingham, B5 4DY) – these will include long days.
Then as per the schedule below (Page 4) – you must be available for all performances.
About the Production –
The BOA Group are delighted to announce that their Christmas show for 2024 will be The
Wizard of Oz. This wicked pantomime adventure will run in Birmingham from Tuesday 26th
November until Tuesday 31st December at The Old Rep Theatre. This will mark the ninth
Christmas production that The BOA Group have produced at the theatre.
It’s time to don your ruby slippers and join us as we hop, skip, and jump our way down
the yellow brick road to the Emerald City…
Dorothy loves her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry, but she spends most of her days daydreaming
of a place where she and her little dog Toto can escape Kansas and live a life free from the
troubles, trials, and tribulations of the farm.
What Dorothy hadn’t been planned for though was a tempestuous tornado whisking her
away to a strange and magical land with no way of getting back home. Not only that, but her
crash-landing arrival into Oz angers the vile and vicious villain, the Wicked Witch of the West!
This adventure follows Dorothy who, with the help of the Good Witch Glinda, a spirited
scarecrow, a tender tinman, and a loveable lion, follows the yellow brick road to try and find
a way home. Encountering both friends and foes during her quest through the colourful
kingdom, watch as Dorothy and her charismatic companions journey to the Emerald City.
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Leading the way in her sparkling ruby slippers, will Dorothy have the brains, heart, and
courage to find the wonderful wizard, save Oz from the Wicked Witch, and safely get back
home to Kansas?
This dazzling production promises to be a feast for the senses and a treat for all the family.
The Wizard of Oz will be an unforgettable panto extravaganza making it an unmissable
experience this festive season.
This year’s production of The Wizard of Oz will be directed by
Lorna Laidlaw. Lorna is a professional director and actress. Her
performance credits include: Mrs Tembe in Doctors, Aggie
in Coronation Street, Getting It Straight and A Midsummer
Night’s Dream for Birmingham Rep.
Theatre Directing: Caribbean Kitchen, Nativity, Stranger in the
Park, ID-79 and In Between the Music (Birmingham Rep), Mr
Soon Come, winner of The MVSA Award, Best Black Theatre
Production (The Drum), Big for me, Little for you (Midlands Arts
Centre and National tour), Dismortal Life (Stratford Fringe
Festival. Lite, The Public and Arena Wolverhampton), Bun and
Cheese (Bussey Centre, Peckham and Old Joint Stock). Rosa Parks the Hidden Journey
(Midlands Arts Centre), Sky Comedy Festival: Black Men Fishing and Patch (Birmingham Rep
Theatre), She’s Royal, an all-female production (Birmingham Hippodrome and The
Wolverhampton Grand).
Lorna said: “I am thrilled to be bringing to the stage this production of The Wizard of Oz. A
production full of fun and laughter for the whole family. The yellow brick road is waiting for
you!”
We are also excited to announce that actress and comedian
Janice Connolly BEM will be joining our Creative Team as
Comedy Dramaturg. Janice is best known for performing stand-
up comedy as her character Barbara Nice. Her other
performance credits include: Phoenix Nights, That Peter Kay
Thing, The Good Ship Murder, Coronation Street and So
Awkward. Connolly is the artistic director and founder member
of the Birmingham-based Women and Theatre. In 2017, she
appeared in the New Years Honours list in recognition of her
contribution to community arts through her work with Women and Theatre.
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Full schedule –
Date Performance 1 Performance 2
Tuesday 26 November 7pm
Wednesday 27 November 7pm
Thursday 28 November 1.30pm 7pm
Friday 29 November 10.15am 1.30pm
Saturday 30 November 2.30pm 7pm
Tuesday 3 December 10.15am 1.30pm
Wednesday 4 December 10.15am 1.30pm
Thursday 5 December 10.15am* 1.30pm
Friday 6 December 7pm
Saturday 7 December 2.30pm 7pm
Sunday 8 December 1.30pm
Tuesday 10 December 10.15am^
Wednesday 11 December 10.15am 1.30pm
Thursday 12 December 10.15am 1.30pm
Friday 13 December 7pm
Saturday 14 December 2.30pm 7pm
Sunday 15 December 1.30pm
Tuesday 17 December 10.15am 1.30pm
Wednesday 18 December 10.15am 1.30pm
Thursday 19 December 10.15am
Friday 20 December 7pm
Saturday 21 December 2.30pm 7pm
Sunday 22 December 1.30pm
Tuesday 24 December (Christmas Eve) 2.30pm
Thursday 26 December (Boxing Day) 2.30pm
Friday 27 December 2.30pm* 7pm
Saturday 28 December 7pm
Sunday 29 December 7pm^
Monday 30 December 2.30pm 7pm
Tuesday 31 December (New Years Eve) 2.30pm
Key:
^ British Sign Language (BSL) performance
* Relaxed performance